Ron Peake and Open Country kicked off WAMZ Radio's last free summer series show of '89 at 2:10 p.m. on Sunday, September 24, with "Please, Please Baby."
Ron Peake is tough to beat when he copies Haggard's "Think I'll Just Stay Here and Drink," Whitley's "Do You Ever Think Of Me?" and Travis' "Just A Matter Of Time" hits. His style has a unique, smooth, traditional feel that could be begging for bigger and better things to come. His Open Country back-up band had a very good sound and decent vocals on a variety of progressive country hits in between Peake's songs.
Foster & Lloyd followed at 3:30 with their mandolin-flavored country rock and good harmonies – a little more get-down, rough-at-the edges sound than the Everlys.
They go with what they've got, which is their own well-written songs and a band that drives the same kind of get-down country rock feel that comes across in the vocals.
They sang their first Top 10 hit that they wrote four years ago together, "Since I Found You," for Sweethearts Of the Rodeo. They also sang their hit song "What Do You Want From Me This Time?" and two songs on their new album that I was impressed with – "Suzette" and "All I Want's A Fair Shake." A good example of their strong, bold lyrics is in "All's Said and Done": "If you think there's a chance she'll take you back, you'd better grab her and run."
Clint Black started off with "Hungry Daddy's Gonna Walk the Line." The up-and-coming new artist of "Killing Time" fame has a strong voice that reminds me of an under-control, smoother-sounding Hank Williams Jr.
Black's bus had an interesting picture painted on it – four guitars that appeared to be growing in a mountain, with wording underneath that read "Mt. Rock More."
I managed to listen to the music from just about every vantage point at the Speedway, although I had to leave before concert's end. It had been a day that saw the blue-jeans crowd singing along, dancing along and just generally having a country-concert good old time.